Ben Comer
Executive Editor
Ben brings both biopharma expertise and diverse experience. For the past five and a half years, he was a senior manager in PwC’s Health Research Institute. He developed reports on various policy issues and business trends, particularly in the pharma and medtech sectors, provided research for clients and spoke at industry events. Previously, he was a journalist with Pharmaceutical Executive; Medical Marketing & Media, PRWeek and Direct Marketing News; and Ad-Fax Media. During his college days, he taught English in China.
He lives in Orlando, Fla. Outside of work, Ben enjoys playing guitar, welcomes your recommendations for great novels and avidly pursues hiking, biking and other outdoor activities.
Latest From Ben Comer
Data Governance Key In Maximizing Value Of Electronic Health Information
As of 5 April, 2021, health care providers, health IT developers and health information exchanges in the US face penalties for blocking the free exchange of electronic health information, including patient requests for health records. But strong data governance policies are needed to make health information serve patient needs, according to a Prix Galien panel of experts.
Using Oncology Patient Monitoring Data To Improve Outcomes
Through a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Charles River Analytics is building a platform to collect and analyze biometric sensor data and connected devices used by cancer patients across the US. The goal of the project is to support large-scale population health research and to improve cancer outcomes.
The Growing GLP-1 Therapy Market
Novo Nordisk was not the first biopharmaceutical company to launch a GLP-1 therapy into the market for type 2 diabetes. In fact, Amylin Pharmaceutials’ and Eli Lilly’s Byetta (exenatide) beat Novo’s Victoza (liraglutide) to market by a full five years.
Brand Spotlight: Novo Nordisk’s Semaglutide
Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist marketed in an injected formulation as Ozempic, and an oral tablet form as Rybelsus, is a success story with the potential for an epic third act. First approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide is under FDA review as a treatment for obesity, with additional clinical programs in NASH and Alzheimer’s disease.
JCR Pharma: Crossing Oceans And The Blood-Brain Barrier
After 45 years as a domestic Japanese biopharmaceutical company, JCR Pharmaceuticals is expanding into global markets. The company is betting that its manufacturing strength – which helped land a COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing deal with AstraZeneca – and blood-brain barrier crossing J-Brain Cargo technology will lead to success in Western markets.
Do It Yourself: Advantages Of Internal Gene Therapy Manufacturing
The number of gene therapies in development continues to rise, as trial sponsors widen the scope of addressable conditions, beyond ultra-rare diseases. Will manufacturing capacity – and payer budgets – be able to keep up?